Pro V3 !!top!!: Planswift Earthwork

Note: PlanSwift is now largely integrated into the ConstructConnect Takeoff ecosystem. However, legacy users and specific earthwork modules still reference "v3" or "Pro." This review assumes you are evaluating the standalone legacy version or the earthwork-focused upgrade within the classic PlanSwift interface.

User Experience: Speed Without Complexity

One of PlanSwift’s enduring strengths has been its drag-and-drop, ribbon-free interface, and Earthwork Pro v3 preserves that DNA. When you click a polyline, a side panel instantly shows cut volume, compacted fill required, and loose cubic yards needed.

A standout v3 addition is the “Smart Stack” : if you draw a building pad over a detention pond over an access road, the software understands the construction sequence. It will subtract the pond’s excavation from the pad’s borrow requirement, preventing double-counted material—a common error in manual or basic digital takeoffs. planswift earthwork pro v3

3. Material Balancing

Earthwork isn't just about moving dirt; it's about moving the right dirt. Version 3 includes a material library where you assign shrink/swell factors for:

  • Sandy Loam (Swell: 15-20%)
  • Hard Clay (Swell: 25-35%)
  • Rock (Blast rock swell: 40-50%)
  • Compacted Fill

The software automatically converts bank cubic yards (BCY) to loose cubic yards (LCY) to compacted cubic yards (CCY), ensuring your trucking and compaction costs are accurate. Note: PlanSwift is now largely integrated into the

3.1 PlanSwift Base Integration

  • Runs entirely inside PlanSwift’s native interface. No separate application launch.
  • Uses existing PDF, TIFF, and CAD (DXF/DWG) takeoff drawings.

The Problem: The "Flat File" Trap

Most construction drawings arrive as PDFs. They are static, flat representations of a 3D world. An estimator looking at a grading plan sees contour lines, spot elevations, and slope arrows.

In standard takeoff software, calculating the area between two contours is easy. But calculating the volume between existing grade (EG) and proposed grade (PG) requires complex geometry. Traditionally, this meant exporting data into expensive, standalone civil engineering software like Civil 3D or Carlson—tools that are expensive, difficult to learn, and often overkill for a general contractor who just needs a bid out the door by Friday. Sandy Loam (Swell: 15-20%) Hard Clay (Swell: 25-35%)

4. Sub-Grade & Strata Tracking

v3 excels at stripping topsoil and tracking multiple layers. For a typical road job, you can set:

  • Layer 1: Remove 6" of Topsoil (Haul off).
  • Layer 2: Cut/Grade Sub-base.
  • Layer 3: Import 12" of Select Fill. The software tracks the volume of each material type separately, exporting a detailed bill of quantities sorted by material code.